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Saturday, July 24, 2010

After almost 5 long months, I am finally finished my C.N.A. (Certified Nursing Assistant) course! It was not an easy course, and at times I felt defeated. I signed up for the course after being inspired by my husband's recent career path taking him into the medical field. *Thank you shitty economy! ;)* After he chose to go through the motions of (eventually) becoming a licensed paramedic, It made me wonder what our local community college offered in the nursing field. I had always dreamed of being a nurse when I was a child, but it wasn't something I was firm about, so it didn't happen. Well, why not do something in the nursing world that you don't have to be a R.N. And, there it was. A Certified Nursing Assistant is a highly regarded position in the medical world, and they are in short supply. You see, CNA's don't get paid the big bucks. Not even close. BUT, 95% of the time they have more interaction with the patients than even their own doctors and nurses. That I liked. Yes, CNA's do alot of grunt work, and that's OK with me. Why? Well, I have compassion. I want to help people.

I do have a wonderful full-time job already. Me becoming a CNA was never intended to replace my current occupation. This is something I plan to do in my spare time, mostly on alternating nights & weekends. One of the local hospitals here (we have many!) has a "Supplemental Causal" schedule where all you have to do is commit to work 36 hours in a 6 week time frame. That is definitely doable.

The last step is for me take the N.A.C.E exam. This is the national registry for all CNA's. Without passing this I cannot work as a CNA. I'm certified now, but that means nothing if you can't actually use the skill. So, on August 12th I take my exam. It's a written exam (easy!) and a skills test in which I have to actually demonstrate 5 skills at random in front of an examiner. How nerve-racking! I'll have one of my former classmates as my partner. She might even have to be my "patient" in some of the mock scenarios. This makes me feel a little better. I don't doubt that I'll pass, it's just a high pressure feeling of knowing it all rests on this! Deep breath, deep breath...

During the last day of class, which was a practice "mock competency" for the NACE exam, we received our certificates. I, of course, couldn't help but act like a big cheeseball. You see, I've never received a certificate before. For anything. It was kinda exiting for me, and I took it all in!

I couldn't even wait 24 hours to frame my new certificate! I went out and bought a new frame immediately! And, being that I had a new desk to sit it on, all the more reason to display it, right?!

Wish me luck in finding p/t work after August 12th! I can't wait! I miss the scrubs already!

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Hi, I'm April!

Me in a nutshell: I am a new mom to the best little boy ever. He's taught me that you can't plan EVERYTHING (Check out my birth story!). I don't really remember what life was like before he stole our hearts. I'm married to his daddy, who is quite the baby daddy! He's amazing. We've been together since the beginning of time, or so it feels like it anyway. :-) We're tackling family life one day at a time, all the while trying to enjoy every single minute of it. It goes by FAST!